Re-potting is required by some varieties of houseplants, while others dislike it when you disturb their roots. An easy way to test which plants require re-potting is to flip them over and tap on the pot until the moment the plant falls out with ease. If the plants roots take up much of the space in the dirt, you need to plant it in a larger pot. If you can only see a few roots, it means your plant is growing well in the pot, and doesn’t need to be transplanted. To keep dogs from disturbing your garden, spray some old aftershave, cologne, perfume or other strongly-scented products in the dirt or grass surrounding it. Your dog will find more interesting scents to explore elsewhere and leave your garden alone. Use the handles of your tools as a handy ruler when doing your outdoor chores. You can use larger tools, like rakes, as measuring sticks. Lay the handles onto the floor and place a measuring tape beside them. Next, use a Sharpie to accurately label the distance between each one. Next time you are working in the garden, you will have a large ruler at your fingertips! Know the ideal times to harvest each of the vegetables you plant. Different vegetables and fruits have their ideal seasons and months where they flourish, survive, and are harvested at the highest quality. For instance, zucchini and baby peas will taste a lot better if you pick them when they are young. Yet, in reverse, tomatoes must wait for prime-ripeness before they are subject to being picked. Simply educate yourself on what the best time is to harvest each of your garden vegetables.
Keep a garden journal. The more information you collect about your site, your plants, and successes or failures in the garden, the less likely you are to make costly mistakes in the future. Although there are many resources to guide you, the most important resource is your own experience. Always be sure to record important information, like the name and variety of the plant, the date it was planted, and where in the garden it is located. While most plants suffer in the cold, some annual flowers actually do better. These plants can become a bit leggy and need to be pruned back to look their best. In less than a month, pruned annuals bloom yet again, providing a rich and vibrant contrast to the usual array of full winter colors. The best cold weather annuals are petunias and snapdragons.
Make garden tools do double duty as handy makeshift rulers. Tools with long handles, such as a shovel or rake, are absolutely perfect for this job, and make your workload a little bit smaller. Simply lay the handles out on the floor and run a measuring tape next to them. Next, use a Sharpie to accurately label the distance between each one. Now you have easy access to a long ruler whenever you are gardening.
